Green energy providers - Things you should consider
Choosing *real green electricity is your easy way to actively contribute to the energy transition. However, make sure you take certain factors into account when making the switch. In this article, we will highlight the most important criteria, quality certificates, and labels for real green electricity. Let's create a better future together by making conscious choices!
In a nutshell
- The supplier provides green electricity from 100% renewable energy sources
- The provider actively promotes the sustainable expansion of renewable energies in Germany
- The provider is independent of conventional electricity producers (coal, nuclear, oil)
"Green electricity" is not a legally protected term. There are big differences between what electricity suppliers promise you as ecological. Energy suppliers who run their main business from conventional coal and nuclear power deceive you with deliberate greenwashing, for example by setting up subsidiaries or buying in certificates of origin from other plants.
According to the comprehensive green electricity report by Robin Wood, there are only 10 sustainable electricity suppliers out of over 1,200 green electricity tariffs in 2023 that supply genuine green electricity from sun, wind, water or biogas and actively promote the energy transition.
🌱 Robin Wood's quality criteria
The environmental protection organization Robin Wood has thoroughly analyzed the green electricity market in Germany and examined over 1200 regional and nationwide providers of green electricity. These clear and stringent quality criteria were drawn up as a result of this comprehensive investigation:
100% green electricity
A sustainable energy provider must not produce electricity from fossil fuels. The electricity is purchased via direct supply contracts with power plants or via intermediaries with direct supply contracts.
Independent (of the coal and nuclear industries)
There is no direct ownership link between the supplier and a group that operates nuclear or coal-fired power plants or trades in electricity from these sources.
No money for coal and nuclear
The supplier purchases electricity from generation plants that have at most minor links with coal or nuclear companies. New investments by the plant owner or operator in coal and nuclear power plants are not permitted.
Additional benefits for the energy transition
A sustainable energy provider should invest part of its revenue in the expansion of renewable energies (by purchasing electricity from new plants and/or fixed investment programs). This ensures that the green electricity tariff actually contributes to the energy transition.
With these criteria in mind, you can make sure that the green electricity tariff you choose is actually environmentally friendly and contributes to achieving climate targets!
These are the best green energy providers according to the Robin Wood quality criteria:
EWS Elektrizitätswerke Schönau eG
Fair Trade Power Deutschland GmbH
Find all current tariffs and compare all truly green electricity providers in our price comparison.
🌟 Independent quality certificates and labels
Grüner Strom label
The Green Electricity Label is the oldest (1998) and also one of the strictest green electricity labels in Germany, which is supported by leading consumer and environmental organisations such as NABU, BUND and Deutsche Umwelthilfe. In addition, the supplier must additionally promote the energy transition by expanding renewable energies from new plants and/or fixed investment programmes (0.1-0.5 cents per kilowatt hour depending on consumption or new plant). However, electricity providers can also only have individual products certified here. However, only pure green electricity providers are included in our comparison.
OK Power + label
The OK Power + label is a product and supplier label issued by the non-profit organisation EnergieVision e.V., which is backed by the Freiburg Öko-Institut and the HIR Hamburg Institut Research. It is awarded to green electricity providers that sell electricity exclusively from renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the provider must not have any direct ownership links with a company that operates nuclear or coal-fired power plants or trades in electricity from these sources. Last but not least, the supplier must additionally promote the energy transition by expanding renewable energies from new plants and/or fixed investment programmes (0.2-0.3 cents per kilowatt hour depending on consumption).
TÜV NORD CERT
To obtain the "Certified Green Electricity" certificate from TÜV Nord CERT, electricity providers must not only supply electricity from renewable energy sources for the specific product, but also demonstrably promote the expansion of renewable energy (0.2-0.3 cents per kilowatt hour depending on consumption or new installations). However, electricity providers can also only have individual products certified here. However, only pure green electricity providers are included in our comparison.
Independent quality certificates and labels for green energy
Advantages of using real green electricity
Purchasing truly green energy from sustainable sources offers numerous advantages:
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Genuine green electricity comes 100% from renewable energy sources and therefore helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Promotion of renewable energies
By purchasing genuine green electricity, you are supporting the expansion of renewable energies and the energy transition.
Clear labeling
Quality certificates and labels provide clear labeling for sustainable energy providers, making it easy for consumers to choose the right tariff.
Contribution to the environment
Purchasing genuine green electricity is an active contribution to the environmental and climate protection movement and shows that consumers are taking responsibility for their energy source through
About the author | Besides his academic specialization in renewable energy technologies and circular economy, Tizian Luciani's professional career includes research for an energy market institute in Germany, sales consulting in renewable energy consulting for the biggest utility provider in Austria and business development in the field of ESG and sustainability for a multinational wind power company.